From Royal to Parliamentary Rule Without Revolution, Credible Commitments and the Market for Power within Divided Governments

The domain of possible power assignments within a multicameral government is multidimensional and essentially continuous. This allows policymaking authority to be divided in many ways and also allows constitutional exchange to take place along many margins of power. This internal market for authority over budgets and public policy allows policymaking power without threat of civil war or violent revolution. Both external political and economic developments can create opportunities for mutually beneficial reassignments of policymaking power, which in unusual circumstances can lead to parliamentary supremacy. Historical examples from English history are used to demonstrate the relevance of the analysis